My phone buzzing on the dresser draws my attention. It’s CK. I hesitate. I don’t want a big, fat lecture on the demerits of telling Cole our secret. But I know my sire. He will keep calling me until I answer. Or worse, turn up unannounced and scare Cole half to death.
“Took you long enough,” he says gruffly when I finally do answer.
“Hello, to you, my love. How has your day been?” I ask sweetly.
He chuckles. “Very good, thank you, and yours?” he says.
“All good so far, thank you kindly. What did you need me for?” I ask, briskly.
“Hmm, all sorts of things,” he says seductively.
“Hmm,” I murmur, letting my imagination run wild.
After a moment of silence on his end, I say suddenly, “Are you at the penthouse?” Referring to his penthouse in Milan as opposed to his castle in Tuscany, twirling my ‘T’ charm absently.
He pauses briefly before answering, “Yes. Why?”
“No reason, I just wondered,” I mutter.
“Liv? Why do you ask?” he presses.
“I miss Tuscany,” I whisper. “You never take me there anymore.”
He hesitates for several seconds and clears his throat before he says, “I wasn’t aware that you wanted to go there. Given what it means…”
I sigh. We are hitting taboo territory here; I shouldn’t have brought it up. “Forget I mentioned it. What did you want me for?” I ask again, eager to get to the reason for this call. Cole is due shortly.
“Specifically, something has come up,” he says.
“What?” I ask, only half interested.
“Where are you?” he asks instead.
“At home, why?” I ask, confused.
“I’m coming over, I need to see you.”
“Why?” I ask again, now intrigued, but then remember Cole. “Now isn't really a very good time, CK.”
“I will see you shortly in your office,” he says, ignoring me.
I find myself listening to the dial tone as he has hung up on me, much to my annoyance.
I stride to the door and yank it open. “Devon!” I yell, and he comes running.
“What’s up?” he asks in panic.
“I have no idea. CK just said he’s coming over,” I say, marching downstairs.
“Great,” he mutters. “Can’t say that I will stick around for that visit.”
“Dev, don’t start,” I admonish.
“Wait! Does this mean that Cole gets to meet him today?” he asks with far more interest than I’m comfortable with.
“I hope not. Hopefully, he will come and go before Cole arrives. Surprising him with this now? Well!” I fling my hands up in the air.
He snorts and agrees. “Yeah, I get that.”